The deepest of 50 boreholes to be sunk around Elton as part of a proposed energy research centre will be drilled 24 hours a day for around four months.

British Geological Survey (BGS) revealed this information at a residents’ drop-in at Elton Community Centre concerning their plans for the Cheshire Energy Research Field Site at nearby Ince Marshes.

BGS says its network of boreholes will be monitored using sensitive equipment enabling scientists to study geology in unprecedented detail with publicly accessible data revealed about how fluids and gas flow underground.

Anti-frackers have already made clear they want the research centre to concentrate on looking into renewable energy technology but avoid investigations perceived as supporting the shale gas industry.

Details about the imminent planning application show 50 boreholes will be drilled ranging from depths of 50m, 600m and with the deepest at 1,200m.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) drop-in session held at Elton Community Centre.

Information boards at the drop-in claim there will be no significant or permanent noise but the ‘greatest noise’ will occur during drilling. For the most part drilling will be restricted to daytime hours between 7.30am and 6pm Monday to Friday and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.

The material explained: “Depending on the depth of each borehole and the number of boreholes at each site, it is expected that drilling works would take around two to four weeks per site. The exception to this is the drilling of the deeper boreholes. For around four months while we drill the 600m and 1,200m boreholes, drilling will be 24/7.

“The noise and visual screening of the borehole locations will mean that disturbance to residents will be very limited. The deepest borehole is located close to the glass factory to the north of Elton, which has installed measures to reduce noise from the heavy vehicles along the access routes.

“These measures, coupled with the railway embankment, will assist in minimising noise from the proposed drilling works.

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“Once the temporary drilling is complete, the only other potential noise increase is occasional vehicle traffic generated by scientists visiting the site.”

BGS says drilling will comply with 1995 regulations and industry best practices to ensure ‘no mixing of waters in the well, leakage or pollution of the aquifer’. The wells, which will be no wider than a dinner plate, will be capped with manholes to ensure they are safe and secure.

After 15-20 years, once the research has been concluded, the boreholes will be filled with the concrete and the ground surface reinstated.

On site will be a cabin to shelter the scientists as well as dishes and antenna to transmit the data back to base including one 20m high mast.

Ince Marshes (Image: UGC)

Details around the practical applications of the scientists’ research appear to be a work in progress.

An information board states: “The research they conduct could help to answer questions around carbon storage, a technique which has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions by extracting it from the atmosphere and storing it in porous rocks such as sandstone.

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“Their research could help answer questions around compressed air energy storage, the theory of using rocks as a battery store for energy generated from wind, solar and tidal power. It could improve our understanding of extracting fossil fuels and minerals.

“And it would provide the world with the most comprehensive understanding of what is ‘normal and natural’. This environmental baseline knowledge is critical to being able to predict with accuracy future climate change or to balancing the Global Methane Budget.”